The following symptoms and complaints may indicate root resorption:
Main symptoms
- Trauma-related resorptions
- External transient (temporary) resorption
- Asymptomatic
- Without clinical significance
- External replacement absorption
- Loss of physiological intrinsic mobility/anklosis (“fusion of the teeth with the jawbone“).
- Bright percussion sound (knocking sound)
- No percussion dolence (knocking sound)
- In growing patients infraposition (malposition of the teeth) possible.
- External transient (temporary) resorption
- Resorptions due to infection
- Initially usually asymptomatic
- Absent or false positive reaction in the sensitivity test
- later possibly:
- Loosening
- Dull percussion sound
- Sensitivity to percussion (sensitivity to tapping)
- Fistula formation
- Extrusion (“lengthening of teeth”)
- Local discomfort
- Internal resorptions
- Often asymptomatic; incidental finding or late diagnosis
- Spontaneous fracture (spontaneous tooth fracture) in advanced lesion.
- Pulpitis symptomatology (dental nerve inflammation symptomatology) possible.
- Percussion dolence (tapping pain).
- Positive vitality test (= sensitivity test positive).
- “Pink spot” (shimmering through endodont/ “that which is in the tooth”) with pronounced internal resorption in the cervical area of the tooth crown.
- Invasive cervical resorption
- Often initially asymptomatic and unnoticed
- Aggressive course
